It might be Vancouver’s strangest holiday tradition. Once every December, in the midst of all the shopping and decorating, Vancouverites set aside a moment to celebrate one of the more obscure events of the season: Keith Richards’ birthday.

Keithmas, the annual holiday tribute to Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards, is back for its fourth instalment this year, Dec. 20 at the Electric Owl pub on Main Street. At least nine bands will take the stage in a charity concert marking the 70th birthday of one of rock’s timeless (if not ageless) icons.

The concert serves as a fundraiser for the Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society. Bands, all of whom play a short set of Rolling Stones or Keith Richards covers, perform for free. All proceeds from ticket sales go the food bank, and guests who bring non-perishable food to donate get discounted admission.

Are you ready to turn back the clock with Chicken Pick’ns, Triple Triple burgers and bumbleberry pie?

White Spot, Vancouver’s beloved homegrown burger joint, is turning 85 on July 16. In honour of the momentous occasion, they’re bringing back a retro menu from June 10-July 14 featuring some long lost classics from the restaurant’s early years.

In addition to the artery-challenging Triple Triple burger (that’s three patties slathered with Triple O sauce), White Spot will feature the snack that started it all: their BBQ Chicken Sandwich.

When the original White Spot drive-in opened in 1928 on Granville Street and 67th Avenue in Vancouver, beef was in short supply. So the restaurant earned its first loyal fans by serving chicken, not burgers, explains Mia Stainsby in a great article for the Vancouver Sun.

Inside Vancouver is a multi-author blog, written by Vancouverites about Vancouver. Our goal is to give an insider’s view of Vancouver, to provide information, stories and opinions from the locals’ perspective about this great city.